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Amateur radio satellites?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:27 pm
by slipknot
Hi all.
Ive heard rumors that there are satelites that amateur radio operators can use for extreme distance talk. what bands are these satelites usualy on?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:14 am
by WPXZBP
Yes - they operate on a range of frequencies (look up AMSAT on Google or on something like Wikipedia for specifics) and you can work them with your F-call. 2m & 70cm are very popular for amateur satellites but many are on other bands.
Be advised - they can require good (ie $$$) antenna systems.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:46 am
by slipknot
would a Directional Antenna work perhaps? Yagi?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:34 pm
by WPXZBP
Yes, or a quagi.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:38 pm
by slipknot
ooo , never heard that one.
Thanks WPX
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:17 pm
by robbage
If you're adept at making stuff, there are piles and piles of sites with designs for antennae to use with 2m and 70cm sat, Yagis and quagies included. Even the
folded inverted V dipole J-pole combo antenna
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:23 pm
by slipknot
Does anyone here talk on ameture radio satelites?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:02 pm
by WPXZBP
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:38 pm
by robbage
slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?
With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:14 pm
by Blinky
robbage wrote:slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?
With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.
A replacement AM/FM antenna on the car also.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:34 pm
by robbage
I found one on GIS but it was a dead link. It was bend to the shape of Australia
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:43 pm
by Blinky
Blinky wrote:robbage wrote:slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?
With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.
A replacement AM/FM antenna on the car also.
Ok..got a little off topic there I guess... so back to topic.
here's my latest satellite antenna
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:16 pm
by playworth
haha lucky it wasnt storm wen You had it out like that. hahaha
* lighting stuck *
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:20 pm
by slipknot
Even the one about the australian coathanger. Nice one Blinky! Does anyone know what satelites can be hit from australia? orbating or sationary over Aus.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:33 pm
by Blinky
slipknot wrote:Lol, Agknowlaging everyones replies , Thanks everyone, even the one about the australian coathanger. Nice one Blinky! Does anyone know what satelites can be hit from australia? orbating or sationary over Aus.
If they are up there and their status is operational then they can be heard or worked. The AMSAT site mentioned earlier has a page that shows the status and frequencies for uplink and downlink of the various satellites.
Next thing would be to get a satellite tracking program to see when they are within range. My personal favorite is WXTrack (
http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder. ... xtrack.htm ) but there are a load of others. Orbitron is popular (
http://www.stoff.pl/ ) and Nova (
http://www.nlsa.com/ ).
After that its a case of listen and see what you can hear.
Others no doubt have their own favorites. Maybe they will post the names or URL's here for you.
Phil
